How does Borders Bankruptcy Affect Authors Book Promotion?

No newsflash. We knew this was coming. Borders filed Bankruptcy today. They created a special website to address their reorganization. However, there is nothing on the site that addresses how authors will be affected. There’s  little discussion on what authors should do to promote their books despite Borders. I have some thoughts. Let’s discuss.

You can talk to me and ask me questions:

• here on the site
• on my Facebook Wall
• on Twitter @deegospel hashtag #borderfail
• or on the Christian Fiction Facebook Page

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• The Tipping Edge of Bookstore Bankruptcy & Book Instore Promotion (deegospelpr.com)

On Pretty Book Covers

I admit pretty book covers intrigue me. If I’m wandering through bookstore shelves or skimming through my copy of RT Book Reviews Magazine, I always stop at the pretty covers. In the past ten years I’ve been chatting books I’ve noticed that the prettier the books the bigger the marketing push by the publisher. Bethany House has went out their way to promote Julie Klassen’s upcoming title.  So now I wonder whether book cover design is a tip off as to what books the publisher feels confident about. I further wonder, does great storytelling beget a great book cover or great grasp of what readers want beget a great book cover. After all, Julie is one of the best writers I know. She is also an editor for Bethany House. Hm….

More pretty Klassen covers:

Related articles

• Will Readers be Queens of Publishing in 2011? (deegospelpr.com)
• Holiday Lit Luxe : Book Clutch (deegospelpr.com)
• Judging a Book by Its Cover (wired.com)

3 Press Release Don’ts for Authors

As a literary business hybrid, I get to see the publishing industry in three dimensional terms. As a writer, I share the same pangs and long hours of marketing my latest writing project or literary event. As a publicist, I spend hours creating the best press release for my clients with hopes that it grabs my media friends attention. As a member of the press, I take great care in scrutinizing author requests to be featured in on my blog or magazine department or radio show in my charge.

All three aspects of me require basic marketing acumen. All further require a brilliant press release(either on the part of me creating one or me receiving one) to help me stay successful.

What I’ve found is that my press release submission ratio is higher than most and my press release acceptance ratio is very high. In short, I’m pretty successful creating press releases, but unsuccessful retrieving good ones to help me satisfy my many writing assignments.

So I thought it would be best if I share the three major guffaws a writer should never take when creating a press release. All three are mistakes I’ve witnessed and/or participated in before I knew any better. Click here to continue.

Book Proposal Creation: Retooling & Story Execution

I have a love/hate relationship with book proposal writing that may shock you. I love writing proposals. Authors pay me to upgrade or write their book proposal for them. But when it comes to my proposal. I love putting it together, but I hate realizing--particularly at marketing analysis stage-- that novel is not ready and needs to be retooled again. Another rewrite.

And this is the basis of today's post.

A literary agent requested my proposal. Usually I turn the proposal around within a few minutes, but I wanted to make sure that I presented the novel as I best as I knew I could. So I stopped working on my current WIP to take a look at the proposal. While reading through my sample chapters, I realized that my execution of my story was off pace. (I can hear my write-or-die-chicks throwing things, bBecause I am a revision-aholic.) Book reviewers and literary pr people a bigger view of the industry. I've witnessed new writers jumping the gun too soon or losing credibility in the industry because they keep pitching unready books. I don't want to be that person. However, I also don't want the writer who never got a deal because she didn't give herself a chance. I definitely fit the latter category. However, in this case I knew the novel needed to be fixed. So this week I had to retool the beginning of my novel.

Now it is ready to go. Halleljuah.

As I speed read through the final version, I thought of you guys. Two weeks ago during #writechat many authors shared how they despised book proposals. I understand their gripe. Here are three Dee-facts that may warm your hearts to your book proposals:

1. Book Proposals help you determine which publishing houses will be a fit for your novel. As you write your market analysis, you should be comparing your book to other books in the publishing houses you think your book fit. If you don't know where you book fits, subscribe to Romantic Times Magazine, Black Issues Book Review, Book Pages, BookMarks(my fave!) NYT Book Review, Library Journal Book Reviews, visit christianbook.com or barnesandnoble.com, and contact publishing houses and request their quarterly catalogue. I know every book in my genre that will be coming out between now and early 2011.
   
2. Book Proposals help you explain to your publishing house why you may need additional marketing dollars expensed. Publishing houses don't have a lot of marketing dollars to spread around to newbie or midlist authors. Many of them are only doing online marketing for our crew. What will leverage you with an agency and the PH is adding your proposal a conversation that not only do you know your genre, but you can sell to it. Stress which events, advertisers, product promo items(like church fans) are essential for you to get a good footing in the market place. It also helps you determine whether you want to choose a certain publishing house, because historically they have done a null job promoting their other authors.
   
3. Book Proposals help you retool your story arc or flow. Know matter how a great salesperson or presenter you are, if your story sucks rocks, your'e done. The proposal--particulary the synopsis section-- will help you see how good a book you have.
   

If you need help with writing your proposal, I provide the service. Ask me for my rates. If you want to see my current proposal email me.

Now here's a question for 3 questions for you:

1. Have you signed up for 30 Days to Build a Better Book Blog
2. How do you approach your book proposal?
3. Which movie did this Brad Pitt Doll play in? lol
   

Brad Pitt Doll Photo Courtesy of Tennis and Conversation blog

Why Don't You Have a Marketing Plan for Your Book?

Last night on Blog Talk Radio we had an encore discussion on book marketing and promotion. There were many things learned from this week's chat that I will discuss further later this week, but the thing that stood out the most was a few of the authors in the chat room and on the show had goals of become bestselling authors, but did not have an idea of the business of selling books and thus, the cost in promoting it. So this morning while out shopping for another driver's seat for my car I opened this question up for discussion on Utterz(listen below:)

What is the disconnect? Why aren't authors thinking of a marketing plan? And how can I help you make that connection? Tell me what you need.

Mobile post sent by deegospel using Utterz. Replies. mp3

3 Reasons Why You Should Listen to Me Tonight

Tonight, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 9:00 pm EST / 8:00 CST tune in to The Abundant Solutions Hour. Gregory Turner and Brian J. Henderson, the hosts have invited me to be a special guest on tonight's show, to help you achieve 3 things this week:

1. Worship God with Your Talent
2. Realize that God has prepared you to achieve your dreams
3. Gain a Basic Knowledge of the Christian Book Publishing Industry
Bonus. Share your story of God's faith with others who need encouragement.

You can listen to the show here.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/asemotivation
Or you can Tune in and Talk Here:

Dial In Number (718) 508-9600

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact:
Gregory Turner, CC
President & CEO
Abundant Solutions Enterprises, Inc.
GregoryTurner@AbundantSolutionsEnterprises.com
info@mindalteringstrategies.com
www.AbundantSolutionsEnterprises.com
In order for dreams to come true, you must first wake up. - Gregory Turner

Let's Talk Book Promotion: Speedlink

Today I'm at the SORMAG Conference talking Book Promotion with: LaShaunda C. Hoffman, Dyanne Davis, Shelia Goss, Dee Stewart, Electa Rome Parks, Dara Girard, Ayn Hunt, Sylvia Hubbard, Cheryl Robinson, Andrea Jackson, L. Martin Johnson Pratt. Pam Perry and Rebeca Seitz are also hosting a discussion on publicity. Check us out here.

If you come to the conference I want to know from you. What do you do to market your book?